The Los Angeles Dodgers recently finalized their coaching staff for the 2018 season, with former Chicago Cubs ace Mark Prior among the most intriguing newcomers to the group.
Prior supplants former bullpen coach Josh Bard, who accepted a new position with the New York Yankees to become their bench coach. The USC product detailed the process of being named bullpen coach, citing his previous tenure with the San Diego Padres that helped establish key connections with those currently in the organization.
More specifically, relationships previously being established with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and senior vice president of baseball operations Josh Byrnes.
While he’s new to the job, Prior’s main focus this season is picking up where Bard left off last season, per Cary Osborne of Dodger Insider:
“That’s the big challenge — I don’t want any drop off,” Prior said. “Maintain the level of performance these guys have had. There’s a lot of support from the front office with the information. Kenley (Jansen) down there anchors that, and everything I hear he anchors it from a leadership standpoint. So I’m excited to see how he works and how he goes about owning those relationships. For me, it’s about maintaining and picking up where Josh Bard left it, and hopefully there’s a seamless transition there.”
Prior inherits the National League’s most efficient bullpen from the 2017 season. It’s headlined by All-Star closer Kenley Jansen, who tied for the NL lead with 41 saves.
Collectively, the Dodgers relief corps placed first in FanGraphs’ WAR (7.6), ERA (3.38), FIP (3.55) and strikeouts per nine innings (10.2).
Like the coaching staff, the Dodgers bullpen has also seen some turnover this offseason. The most notable departure from last year’s group is former setup man Brandon Morrow, who signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Cubs.
Left-hander Luis Avilan will also don a new uniform next season, as he was traded to the Chicago White Sox earlier this month as part of a three-team trade that also involved the Kansas City Royals. In that same transaction, the Dodgers netted ground-ball specialist Scott Alexander, who enjoyed a breakout campaign with the Royals last year.
Also on the addition side is former starting pitcher-turned reliever, Tom Koehler, most recently of the Toronto Blue Jays, where he enjoyed success in his new role after struggling in the Miami Marlins’ rotation.
